Kim Jae-joong Moved to Tears by Parents' Tumultuous Life Story on 'The Taste of Others'

KBS 2TV's entertainment show 'The Taste of Others' (hereafter 'The Taste of Others') captivated viewers with laughter and emotion during its 'Mom's Hand Special' episode. In particular, singer Kim Jae-joong was deeply moved to tears upon hearing his parents' challenging life stories for the first time.

The episode, aired on the 19th, featured the 'Mom's Hand Special' in preparation for the Chuseok holiday. On this day, Kim Jae-joong not only showcased his culinary skills but also warmed viewers' hearts with his profound filial piety towards his mother. His father confessed to the difficult period of facing a staggering debt of 100 million won in the 1980s due to a business failure, expressing his apologies to his wife. Kim Jae-joong's mother recounted her arduous life, working tirelessly from street vending to running a restaurant to support their nine children, revealing that she endured immense hardship, even contemplating death, but persevered for her family.

Kim Jae-joong's mother then shared how she found an opportunity for a life turnaround by chance when she started a restaurant. Through word-of-mouth, her dishes like jokbal (pig's trotters), sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup), and boribap (barley rice) became a huge hit, enabling her to repay the entire 100 million won debt within a year. Kim Jae-joong expressed deep admiration for his mother's dedication and resilience, saying, "Mom, you're amazing." The broadcast recorded a viewership rating of 4.1% in the Seoul metropolitan area, an increase from the previous week, securing the top spot among entertainment shows in its time slot across terrestrial, general programming, and cable channels.

Meanwhile, swimmer Park Tae-hwan, also known as the 'Marine Boy,' appeared with his mother on the show, showcasing fantastic chemistry. Park Tae-hwan and his mother shared their similar athletic abilities and competitive spirits, raising anticipation for their upcoming activities in the 'Mom's Hand Special.' They prepared dishes together, conveying warm family love to the viewers.

Kim Jae-joong debuted in 2003 with TVXQ! and later found success as a solo artist and member of JYJ. He has proven his talent as an all-around entertainer through acting and musical performances. Recently, he has expanded his career as an entrepreneur, continuing his diverse endeavors.